Overview
The Admiralty Vector Chart Service (AVCS) brings together Electronic Navigational
Charts (ENCs) from national Hydrographic offices around the world and new ENC coverage
produced by UKHO in co-operation with Foreign Governments to provide comprehensive,
official, worldwide coverage.
Compliant
AVCS contains only ENC data that meets SOLAS Carriage Requirements for use within
Electronic Chart Display and Information Systems (ECDIS).
Quality
AVCS meets customer requirements for a comprehensive, world-wide, full carriage
compliant electronic chart service. AVCS continues to develop in response to customer
feedback through an ongoing programme of enhancements. Full details of planned enhancements
are available on the 'Future Enhancements' tab.
UKHO has instituted a programme of assessment by its professional cartographers
where the content of the ENC is compared to relevant national paper charts. Any
navigationally significant discrepancies identified are then investigated and resolved
with the producing nation. No other electronic chart service offers this level of
reassurance.
Carriage Compliant
The Admiralty Vector Chart Service only contains ENC data that meets Safety of Life
at Sea (SOLAS) Carriage Requirements for use within Electronic Chart Display and
Information Systems (ECDIS).
ENCs
Electronic Navigational Charts (ENCs) are digital vector charts produced to the
International Hydrographic Organization's (IHO's) standards (S57 Version 3.1 and
ENC Product Specification). They are referred to World Geodetic System 1984 Datum
(WGS84) and are regularly updated with official update information distributed digitally.
Hydrographic offices do not take any responsibility for the accuracy or reliability
of privately produced, unofficial charts.
Purchasing
AVCS provides cost-effective coverage of the world's major shipping routes, avoiding
the need to purchase unnecessary data. AVCS is sold in two different formats, Folios
& Units, offering the ultimate in purchase flexibility.
Folios
AVCS is sold in a series of Folios, which are geographic collections of ENCs selected
for a specific purpose (e.g. transiting an area). They are designed to make ordering,
maintenance and licensing as easy and flexible as possible. Each Folio is automatically
maintained for any relevant changes to ENC coverage.
Transit Folios
These are designed to provide all the coverage needed for a vessel to pass safely
through a region when not engaging in local trade, saving you the expense of purchasing
detailed coverage for regions that you are just passing through, whilst including
more coverage to negotiate the choke points such as the Suez Canal and Malacca Straits.
Regional Folios
These cover a much smaller geographical area than Transit Folios and include all
Coastal and some Approach ENCs, where coastal coverage is not available. Regional
Folios are designed for local and coastal trade, where more detailed coverage of
complex coastal waters is required. They do not include Port Approaches or Entry.
Port Folios
These typically comprise Approach, Harbor and Berthing cells grouped together into
a single sales unit. Under typical operational conditions, vessels approaching a
port directly from an ocean passage will require only Transit and Port Folios if
not engaging in coastal operation.
Where a number of major ports are grouped in a complex waterway (e.g. Japan's 'Bungo
Suido and Western Inland Sea'), a single Port Folio may provide coverage for all
the ports in the area.
Chart by Chart
Hand-pick individual ENC chart coverage that meets the specific requirements of
your Fleet to ensure precise coverage of your shipping routes.
All ENCs in AVCS can be selected on a chart-by-chart basis as ENC Units. These Units
are the smallest unit of sale allowed by ENC producers and usually contain ENC data
approximately equivalent to a paper chart.
Combination
Combine AVCS Folios of your choice with individual ENC charts for unrivalled coverage
and voyage flexibility.
Licensing & Updating
Licensing
AVCS licences are for a 12 month period, within which you will hold an AVCS media
pack, containing world-wide AVCS data, receive weekly updates to the AVCS data set
and have access to online updates through the Admiralty Updating Service. Within
the licence period, AVCS Folios and ENC Units can be added for periods of three,
six, nine or twelve months, where data supply agreements allow. This offers maximum
choice and the flexibility to match your chart holdings to your operational patterns.
Updating
AVCS includes remote updating software, the Admiralty Updating Service, free of
charge. The software can be used to obtain immediate updates to your ENC data, either
directly over the Internet or by email, anywhere in the world, at anytime. The service
also allows the mariner to actively manage their data holdings with the download
of voyage-specific updates, minimising transmission costs for vessels at sea.
An information log is automatically maintained for the Officer of the Watch to ensure
continuity during crew changes. All updates are hosted on a secure server and are
encrypted and digitally signed to ensure that they are authentic and uncorrupted
when you receive them.
Updates to ENC data within AVCS are also supplied weekly on CD as standard, ensuring
that every AVCS customer has a complete and up to date set of data on board, with
the option to easily access additional data if required.
The Admiralty Digital Catalogue is included free of charge within AVCS.
Pricing
Fixed Annual Cost
With AVCS Folios you can be sure of maintaining access to all the latest information
without the need to repeatedly amend your budgets. Any new ENC data that becomes
available will be included in the appropriate AVCS Folio at no additional cost for
the period of your Licence.
Complete Flexibility
Every AVCS customer is provided with a complete set of Base discs containing every
ENC available within the Service. These discs are 'locked' but allow your vessel
to carry complete coverage whilst only paying for the folios and charts required.
Chart holdings can be upgraded quickly and easily at any point during the licence
period, unlocking additional charts to extend your coverage.
Support
The Admiralty Vector Chart Service is backed by UKHO Helpdesk support during normal
office hours, and an emergency permit generation helpline outside those hours, providing
complete confidence and peace of mind.
Pricing
links to pricing go here
Support
Support calls should be directed to your AVCS Distributor in the first instance.
Where your AVCS Distributor is unable to provide support or assistance please contact
the UKHO Helpdesk during UK normal office hours by emailing Helpdesk@UKHO.gov.uk
or phoning +44 (0) 1823 723366.
Where a vessel is diverted for commercial reasons an order can be raised through
your AVCS Distributor. Your AVCS Distributor will receive the permits within 10
minutes of placing the order on the Admiralty Product Ordering System (APOS) and
these can then be forwarded on to you by arrangement with your Distributor.
AVCS User Guide
To download the AVCS user guide please click here.
Data Distribution and Issue Dates
To view the Admiralty ECDIS Service and AVCS Data Distribution and Issue Dates,
please click here.
Emergency Chart Permits
In certain circumstances it may be necessary for a vessel to get access to an AVCS
chart at very short notice, for instance if she has to divert her route due to a
medical or safety emergency. In these emergency circumstances, individual AVCS Chart
Permits can be obtained from the UKHO 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. These Chart
Permits can be transmitted direct to the vessel by email wherever possible, by fax,
or simply by reading the characters out over the telephone or radio. Each Chart
Permit consists of 64 characters.
To obtain an AVCS emergency chart permit please contact the UKHO Helpdesk during
UK normal office hours. Outside of office hours please contact the UKHO Watch Keeper
by emailing navwarnings@btconnect.com, phoning +44 (0) 1823 353448 or faxing +44
(0) 1823 322352. Please quote name and contact details, the vessel name, the User
Permit Number of your ECDIS system and the cell number(s) required.
New Features
In response to feedback from customers, the UKHO is continuing to develop AVCS.
New AVCS Features
Chart-by-Chart Ordering
Flexible Licensing of Units
- The existing flexible licensing of AVCS Folios is extended to ENC Units. Therefore
it is possible to add individual ENC Units to an AVCS licence for periods of 3,
6 and 9 months, where permissions allow.
AVCS Certificate of Ownership
- All AVCS customers receive an AVCS certificate of ownership confirming that the
licensed vessel is navigating on AVCS and that AVCS is comprised only of SOLAS carriage
compliant ENCs.
Admiralty Digital Catalogue